For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
Parallel translations
- WEB For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.
- KJV For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
- NKJV For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
- NASB For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.
- NLT for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Many will come claiming to be the Christ and will deceive many. It warns that false messiahs are a recurring danger.
Overview
Jesus foretells that deceivers will arise claiming his title and leading multitudes astray. Such false claims have appeared throughout history. The warning calls believers to hold fast to the true Christ and not be swept up by counterfeit saviors who exploit hope and fear.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 24:11and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
- Matt 24:24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
- Jer 14:14“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.
- 1 Jn 2:18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.
- Acts 5:36–37Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
- Acts 8:9–10Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
- Jer 23:25“I have heard the sayings of the prophets who prophesy lies in My name: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’
- John 5:43I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him.
- Jer 23:21I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
- Rev 13:8And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 24:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.